More information : Earthwork remains of a World War II bombing decoy protecting Middlesbrough and Teesside industrial sites, operating between 1941 and 1943. Under the control of No 80 Wing RAF and maintained by RAF Middleton-St-George, the site utilised two decoy systems: the 'QL' and the 'Starfish'. The firebreaks for the latter are clearly visible. The site was decommissioned by 1944 and was used as a training site for D-Day as evidenced by the tank tracks.
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A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Sneaton Moor (NZ 903 029). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Middlesbrough. It is referenced as being in use on 01-MAR-1942. It was also the site of a 'Strategic QL' decoy, which was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to protect the North East coast. This is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943. A further civil decoy for the North East coast was located at Aldbrough (TA 258 373). Further 'Starfish' sites for Middlesbrough were located at Middleton (NZ 480 113), Kirkleatham (NZ 616 193), Osmotherley (SE 476 987), Guisborough (NZ 608 118) and Newton Bewley (NZ 475 260).
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Aerial photography from 1972 shows that firebreaks survive at the site.
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NGR concords with that given in source 2. The 'Strategic Starfish' site at Sneaton Moor was built in June 1941. The final decoy sites in the Middlesbrough system were decommissioned in early 1945. They were among the most successful bombing decoys of the war. The site at Sneaton Moor contains the most extensive surviving series of firebreaks, which are in near complete condition.
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Elements of the Starfish site are visible as earthworks, structures and cropmarks on air photographs, centred at NZ 9044 0294. Firebreaks survive as clearly defined earthwork trenches forming a total of 10 potential enclosures. The equipment used to create the lighting effects resulted in parchments evident on vertical photography from September 1943. The Schedule entry records fragments of concrete and brick from decoy equipment and piece s of coal from the fires. However, only the firebreak trenches and a military road appear to be extant on the latest 2009 vertical photography. The location of the control shelter from where operations were coordinated has not been identified.
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